The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has firmly denied claims by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), that the state paid ₦300 million to secure hosting rights for the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), which has since been relocated to Enugu.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Mr. Emeka Obegolu, SAN, Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, the NBA clarified that the money received from Rivers State was a gift and not a conditional payment tied to any form of hosting rights.
Reacting to Ibas’ demand for a refund, the NBA stated that its practice has always involved seeking support from various organizations, including state governments, due to the high cost of organizing the AGC. However, such support, the association emphasized, is never tied to the right to host.
“The attention of the Annual General Conference planning committee has been drawn to a statement credited to the Administrator of Rivers State to the effect that the Rivers State government paid hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025,” the statement read.
“We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject to any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights,” it continued.
Obegolu reiterated that there is no concept of “hosting rights” in NBA conference traditions, and no city is guaranteed to host simply because of financial support. He emphasized that recent conferences have benefited from gifts, partnerships, or sponsorships by various state governments and institutions that share the NBA’s objectives.
“The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC,” the statement added. “We are committed to delivering a world-class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.”
This clarification follows the NBA National Executive Council’s decision on March 27 to move the AGC from Port Harcourt to Enugu. The decision was based on what the NBA described as a series of “undemocratic developments” in Rivers State, including the appointment of Ibas as Sole Administrator.
The NBA accused the state leadership of violating the Constitution and flouting the rule of law, asserting that retaining the conference in Rivers would be seen as endorsing such actions.
With tensions still high, the legal body remains firm on its position, reinforcing its commitment to constitutional governance and the rule of law.
